Archived News Releases

Provincial resources from the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization, the Office of the Fire Commissioner and Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation are providing assistance to residents in the numerous areas of Manitoba affected by the extreme weather.

 

The community of Winnipegosis and the surrounding RM of Mossy River have declared states of local emergency, due to overland flooding caused by water blowing in off Lake Winnipegosis.

 

The local community in Winnipegosis has been leading a response, with sandbagging efforts ongoing since last night. The Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) arranged for additional sandbags to be delivered to the area this morning. Four homes in Winnipegosis have been evacuated.  Other work has included clearing ditches and building berms in the area. A reception centre for those evacuated or otherwise needing assistance has been set up in Winnipegosis.

 

The OFC has co-ordinated the evacuation of six homeowners just outside of Winnipegosis whose properties were surrounded by water overnight.  These people are now staying with family or friends.

 

At Sagkeeng First Nation, two homes have been evacuated due to overland flooding and the residents are being accommodated in the community.

 

The Fisher River Cree Nation has 14 homes affected by water from the heavy rains, but no one has been evacuated. Community officials are operating pumps to move the water away from the homes.  The province has supplied two strategic emergency response trailers and tiger dams to this area.

 

As well, the province has supplied one strategic emergency response trailer and tiger dams to the RM of St. Andrews to help deal with flooding in the area of Netley Creek, caused by heavy rains.

 

A high water advisory continues for the Interlake Region and the Assiniboine and Red rivers.

·         The rain and strong winds have resulted in significant lake level rises on Lake Winnipegosis. Levels are now about 1.19 metres (3.9 feet) above the wind-eliminated level of 253.8 m
(832.68 ft.) prior to the storm.  

·         The Lake Manitoba level at Westbourne saw a rise of about 0.6 m (two ft.) from its wind-corrected level of 247.6 m (812.2 ft.) before the storm.

·         Lake Winnipeg saw a rise of about 0.9 m (three ft.) at Gimli and Victoria Beach, and 0.4 m
(1.3 ft.) at Berens River, from the previous level two days ago. The heavy rains will also increase lake levels slightly.

·         Most levels are expected to stabilize and start declining in the next few days as the winds begin to subside later this week.

 

·         There have been rises between 15 centimetres (0.5 ft.) and 0.6 m (two ft.) in the Red River tributaries.  The Rat River rose by 0.46 m (1.5 ft.) while the La Salle River rose nearly 0.6 m (two ft.).  Most of these tributaries are expected to crest in the next two to four days.

·         Due to additional flows from these tributaries and Sturgeon Creek, the Red River at James Avenue in downtown Winnipeg has risen by 0.3 m (one ft.) since yesterday and stood at 2.1 m (6.86 ft.) this morning.  The Red River is experiencing rises between three cm (1.2 inches) to nearly 0.3 m (one ft.) between Grand Forks and Emerson. All rivers will experience minor crests in the next three to five days, but will remain well within their banks.

 

Assiniboine River and Shellmouth Reservoir

·         The Assiniboine River tributaries have risen between three cm (1.2 in.) and 15 cm (0.5 ft.).  Birdtail Creek has risen by three cm (1.2 in.) while Sturgeon Creek level is up by 15 cm (0.5 ft.). The Assiniboine River at Inglis increased by three cm (1.2 in.) since yesterday. The total flow into the Shellmouth Reservoir is now close to 2,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the outflow is 2,850 cfs.  This has resulted in gradual increase of levels by three millimetres (0.2 in.) in the Shellmouth Reservoir and the level in the reservoir is now 429 m (1,407.43 ft.).  There is no flow over the spillway.  Minor crests will be occurring in the next two to four days with favourable weather.  Flows will remain within the river’s banks.

 

·         A powerful storm tracked through portions of Manitoba in the past 24 hours. This storm produced 30 mm (1.2 inches) to 60 mm (2.4 in.) of rain in much of southern Manitoba.  The storm also generated high winds, mainly from the northwest, gusting up to 90 km/h.  A further five mm
(0.2 in.) to 15 mm (0.6 in.) of precipitation is likely in some portions of southern Manitoba.  In general there will be a return to fair weather on Thursday and for the next five days for most parts of southern Manitoba and the Interlake region, as the unstable weather system moves further east.